Christmas tree and staff holder



Sept. 7, 1935. K. HOLLANDE-:R v 2,014,896

CHRISTMAS TREE AND STAFF HOLER Filed Jan. 25, 1954 FIG. s.

1 INVENTOR.

Kn'th urine H. Hollander' ATTORNEYS.

zz: BY LW Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED sTArss PATIENT OFFICE 1v Claim.

The present invention relates to holders or stands for Christmas trees, iiag staffs, etc., and

the primary object of the invention is to provide an adjustable holder of this character adaptable v for supporting various sizes of trees and staffs in a rigid vertical position and with a minimum amount of elfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree holder wherein the tree trunk is gripped firmly at three spaced points therealong, thereby making the holder adaptable for use in supporting very large trees.

A further object is to provide a tree holder which will be inexpensive to manufacture, one which is simple in construction and operation and one wherein the tree trunk will be automatically centered in the holder.

A further Objectis to provide a holder wherein the tree will be supported in an elevated position above a iioor surface so as to allow for a water container being disposed about the lower'end of the tree trunk for preserving the tree.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:-

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved tree holder in use Yand showing a water container associated therewith, the container being partially broken away for better illustrating the construction of the holder. FigureZ is an enlarged horizontal section thru the holder adjacent to its upper end.

Figure 3 is a plan View of one of thesupporting legs.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the holder comprises an open hanger frame structure 5 suspended at its upper end by supporting legs 6.

Referring first to the specific construction of the hanger frame 5, the same is of substantially truncated form with its smaller end lowermost. In the example illustrated, the hanger frame 5 comprises three hanger bars or arms I arranged in upwardly converging relation and disposed at 120 apart to form an open, upwardly flaring socket for receiving with a wedging action, the lower end of the tree trunk designated as 8. Connecting the lower ends of the arms 'I are three angular tie plates I having their outer ends secured to the lower ends of the arms as by rivets Il. These tie plates I0 are arranged with their angles adjacent the axial center of the hanger frame and form three radially extending double arms as shown in Figure 2. The upper edges of these angular tie plates I0 are formed with teeth i2 for a purpose toV be subsequently described.

Connecting the upper ends of the arms I is a sectional ring or sleeve I3 formed of three arcuate strap sections Il provided at their ends with radially projecting ears I between the inner ends of which the upper ends of the arms 'l are my connected as by rivets or the like I6. Thus the arms serve to space the ears I5 apart, while the rivets I6 serve the dual function of connecting the arcuate sections I4 in annular formation,

and the hanger arms 'l to the ring I3. "5-

Pivotally mounted adjacent their upper ends between each pair of spaced apart ears I5 is a supporting leg 6, which aside from serving as means to suspend the hanger frame 5, also have gripping engagement with the tree trunk 8 above 2o'y thering i3. The legs 6 are provided adjacent their upper ends with a series of adjustment apertures I 8 adapted to receive pivot bolts I 9 extended thru each adjacent pair of ears I5. The

threaded shanlrs of the bolts I9 receive thumb 25 nuts whereby the ears I5 may be drawn together so as to clamp upon the legs 6 and retain the legs in adjusted spread positions. The upper inner edges of the legs 6 are formed into gripping points 2l which are adaptedto bite into the 30 tree trunk at equally spaced points about its circumference. The lower ends of the legs 6 are preferably given a one-quarter twist and then curved to form rounded foot portions 22 for engagement with the floor surface. may be provided with an aperture as shown whereby the legs may be secured to the floor if so desired. Y

Referring once again to the hanger arms 1, these arms are provided along their inner inclined edges with teeth 23 preferably in the form of ratchet teeth soy arranged as to permit ready lowering of the tree trunk along the teeth but resisting ready raising of the trunk after engaged by the teeth.

Threaded to extend radially thru each of the arcuate strap sections I4 midway between the ears l5, is a centering screw 25 provided at their outer ends with right angularly offset portions providing means for rotating the screws. The inner ends of the screws are either upset or formed with enlarged heads 26 providing ample bearing surface to prevent the screws from biting into the tree trunk. By observing Figure 2 it will be seen that these centering screws 25 engage the tree trunk at points on its circumference midway between the Each foot 22 35 points at which the toothed inner edges of the arms I engage the trunk. With this relation of the centering screws 25 to the arms I, the tree may be easily centered in the ring I3 and held at six points about its circumference.

When the tree trunk is arranged in the holder, the legs 6 are adjusted by the openings I8 so as to support the lower end of the hanger frame 5 above the floor surface. This supporting of the hanger frame above the floor surface permits placing of a water container such as at 28 about the lower end of the tree trunk, and as will be observed in Figure 1, this container also receives the lower portion of the hanger frame. The container 28 will serve to preserve the life of the tree and the trunk may be bored as at 29 and a suitable wick 3Q placed in the bore and carried downwardly into the container about the tie plates III. By placing a solution of sugar sweetened water in the container 28, the tree may be kept in a green condition for a considerable length of time in warm temperatures. The open construction of the frame 5 allows for passage of the wick 30 from the heart of the tree trunk into the container 28. When a small tree trunk is placed in the holder and is of such small size as to engage upon the tie plates Ill, the wicking may be extended thru an opening as at 32 in Figure 2 formed by the spacing between the angular tie plates.

In placing a tree in the holder, the base of the tree trunk is inserted thru the ring Il' until the butt engages the teeth 23. If necessary, the lower end of the hanger may be tapped with a hammer' to cause the teeth 23 to more firmly bite into the tree trunk. The trunk may then be centered in the ring I3 by adjusting the centering screws 25 and when the screws 25 are so tightened, the trunk will be gripped at two points along its length. The legs 6 are then adjusted by means of the openings I8 in accordance with the diameter of the tree trunk so that when the pointed ends 2I engage the tree trunk, spreading of the legs will be so limited as to space the lower end of the hanger frame above the floor surface. Since the pointed ends 2| of the legs grip the tree trunk above the centering screws 25 it will be seen that the tree trunk is rmly gripped at three spaced points along its length with the intermediate point of gripping being at points on the circumference of the tree midway between the upper and lower gripping points.

Since the majority of tree trunks do not form true circles, the spread of the legs 6 would in such cases be uneven due to the varying distances from the axis of the tree trunk at which the pointed ends ZI engage the trunk surface. For this reason, the legs 6 are adapted to be held in proper adjusted spread relation by the combined pivot and clamping means I9-20. Such uneven spreading of the legs would cause the tree to tilt in one direction or another unless the plane in which the feet 22 are disposed is normal to the axis of the tree trunk. By spreading the legs 6 on their pivots I9, the points 2I may be caused to bite into the tree trunk for different depths and then retained by means of the thumb nuts 20 serving to clamp the legs between the ears I5. This arrangement may also serve to compensate for uneven floor surfaces.

A tree trunk of the diameter such as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, will have a wedging effect at its lower end or butt with the toothed inclined inner edges of the hanger arms 1. When a tree trunk of smaller diameter than that shown is placed in the holder, the lower butt end of the trunk will engage the pointed teeth I2 of the angle tie plates Ili and be rmly held against any lateral movement.

It will be seen that the holder may be economically constructed from strap metal with very little waste. While the holder has been shown constructed with three legs, hanger arms, tie plates, etc., providing a substantially triangular structure, the holder may be constructed with four legs, hanger arms, tie plates, etc., if found desirable for supporting extremely large trees.

Thus it will be seen that a novel holder has been provided wherein the tree trunk will be so gripped at three spaced points therealong as to render the holder adaptable for use in supporting very large trees in an upright position and against subsequent tilting due to uneven biting in of the supporting legs.

Changes in details may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope or" the following claim.

I claim:

In a tree holder, a hanger frame embodying upwardly diverging arms each having ratchet teeth along its inner edge for engaging the base of a tree trunk, angular tie plates connecting the lower ends of the arms in annular spaced apart relation and each having pointed teeth along its upper edge for engaging the butt end of a tree trunk, said tie plates being spaced apart and providing an opening axially of the frame, a ring member connecting the upper ends of the arms, a centering f screw threaded thru the ring member midway between each arm, and a supporting leg pivoted to the ring member at the upper end of each arm for gripping engagement at its upper end with the tree trunk vat points spaced above the ring member.

KATHERINE HAHN HOLLANDER. 

